Theory DeStijl & Purism

Chapter 16: De Stijl and Neo-Plasticism (1917-1931)

1. Old vs. New Consciousness

  • Old Consciousness: Focused on the individual.

  • New Consciousness: Aimed at the universal, reflecting a broader perspective that influenced both World War and contemporary art.

2. Effects of War

  • War destructed the individual-focused old world.

  • Call for a new balance between individuality and universality in art and culture.

3. New Art and Consciousness

  • Emphasizes equality between the universal and individual.

  • Advocates for liberation from tradition and the cult of individuality.

4. Founders of Neo-Plasticism

  • Influenced by both Spinozan philosophy and Dutch Calvinism.

  • Key figures: Piet Mondrian, Theo van Doesburg, Gerrit Rietveld, Bart van der Leck.

  • Aimed to transcend individual tragedy through a universal consciousness.

5. Key Developments of De Stijl

  • 1918 Manifesto: Established foundational principles emphasizing purity and the need for reform in art.

  • Art Reformation: Influenced by Schoenmaekers’s Neo-Platonic philosophy.

  • Prioritized geometric abstraction and primary colors (yellow, blue, red).

6. Architectural Contributions

  • Robert van 't Hoff: Early architectural works inspired by Wright.

  • Rietveld's Red/Blue Chair: A significant projection of Neo-Plasticism into three-dimensional forms.

  • Architecture aimed for openness and the elimination of cubic restrictions.

7. Later Development and International Influence

  • Lissitzky's Influence: Introduced Proun compositions, blending Russian and Dutch elementarism.

  • Van Doesburg’s works evolved under these new influences, moving away from strict Neo-Plasticism.

8. Tensions Within the Movement

  • 1925: Split between Mondrian and Van Doesburg over aesthetics.

  • Concern for universality shifted toward addressing technical and social aspects.

9. Design Principles

  • Collective Building: Integration of architecture, sculpture, and painting.

  • End of Conventional Art: Focus on creating a unified environment free from individualistic notions.

10. Conclusion of De Stijl Movement

  • Final works reflected a return to abstraction, losing earlier unity.

  • After 1930, most original artists diverged significantly from De Stijl's foundational principles, evolving into varied modern art movements.